A exposição a ruído e o handicap auditivo em trabalhadores de uma indústria textil

Abstract

Introduction: Continuous exposition to high levels of sonorant pressure can cause a noise induced hearing loss (NIAL) and consequently provoque negative effects on the individual quality of life. Objective: Analysing the hearing handicap auto-perception on textile industry employees with and without noise induced hearing loss. Method: The transversal type of the epidemiological study sample was constituted by 83 employees, being 54 from the Normal Group and 29 from the NIAL group. The age group varyed from 23 to 62 years old. All the employees had been exposed to an occupational noise above 85dB(A) at least for two years. A brief question protocol and the questionnaire about hearing handicap auto-perception named Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) have been used. Results: 27.8% of the Normal Group employees presented an audiometric notch in one ear at least. The highest frequency was 6kHz. In the NIAL Group the hearing losses were from 3kHz to 8kHz in the right ear, and from 2kHz to 8kHz in the left ear. 24.1% of the NIAL group presented a light / moderate handicap. The Normal Group employees did not present hearing handicap. There was a statiscally significant association between an auto-reporting hearing loss and being part of the NIAL group.Conclusion: Despite the low rate of handicap in the HHIA, the high occurrence of hearing complaints indicates the importance of the studies about noise effects, independently of the hearing loss presence